Plantain Gall Weevil vs Black-and-Red Froghopper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Plantain Gall Weevil Black-and-Red Froghopper
Scientific Name Mecinus pyraster Cercopis arcuata
Order Coleoptera Hemiptera
Family Curculionidae Cercopidae
Size 3-4 mm 8-10 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Gall Makers Sap Feeders
Regions Europe Southern Europe, Mediterranean
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Plantain Gall Weevil

A small cylindrical weevil that causes stem galls on plantain. Larvae develop inside swollen plant stems. An inconspicuous but very common species.

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Did You Know?

Causes distinctive swellings on plantain stems that are easy to find even when the tiny weevil itself is not visible.

Black-and-Red Froghopper

A southern European froghopper similar to C. vulnerata but with differently shaped red markings. It is common in Mediterranean grasslands.

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Did You Know?

Its bright coloration warns predators of its distasteful body chemistry, a defense rare among xylem-feeders.